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Articles by Monica Buck
“I Usually Don’t Have a Really Good Sprint”: Magnus Bak Klaris Sprints to Gravel World Title
The Dane won the elite men’s Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Western Australia, on Sunday, beating defending champion Florian Vermeersch and Britain’s Connor Swift in a four-rider sprint. Then he explained that sprinting wasn’t really his thing. An awkward announcement for everyone he had just outsprinted.
The Contract-Year Breakaway: How September Can Decide a Rider’s Career
And sometimes, next year’s employer has yet to return your agent’s call. September gives professional cycling an extra layer of suspense. Up front, riders are racing for victories, jerseys and the satisfaction of finally getting something out of a long season. Behind the scenes, some are also racing for a place on next year’s team bus. Preferably with a salary attached. By this point, much of the transfer business is already settled.
‘I Am Stronger Than Mathieu van der Poel on a Mountain Bike’: Pidcock Leads British One-Two at XCO Worlds
The 27-year-old patiently worked his way forward from 35th position before breaking clear of Charlie Aldridge on the penultimate lap in Val di Sole. He crossed the line 17 seconds ahead of his British teammate, with Canada’s Cole Punchard completing the podium at 31 seconds. Pidcock raised his bike above his head as he finished, adding the 2026 rainbow jersey to the XCO world title he won in 2023 and his Olympic gold medals from Tokyo and Paris.
‘I Was Dead Last’: Kim Le Court-Pienaar Completes Her Tour of Britain Redemption
For Le Court-Pienaar, this was more than another impressive result. It was a complete rewriting of her relationship with a race that had previously brought little but disappointment. When she first competed in what was then known as the Women’s Tour, she was just 19 and finished last overall. Her return in 2025 ended in a crash and an early departure. This time, she arrived determined to change the story.
Rousse Says the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Is Ready for Full TV Coverage
That was the slightly surreal situation facing viewers during the opening days of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. It also explains why the debate over full, start-to-finish television coverage has become much louder. Now, race director Marion Rousse says a change is being seriously discussed. Six partially hidden stages Only three of this year’s nine stages (stages 1, 5 and 9) are scheduled to be televised from start to finish.
What Cyclists Can Learn From Runners About Consistency
Yet we are remarkably good at making a simple ride feel logistically impossible. There is the route to plan, the forecast to examine and the question of whether 45 minutes is really worth putting bib shorts on for. If two or three hours are unavailable, the entire session often disappears. Runners tend to approach things differently. Shoes on, out of the door, 35 minutes completed and back home before the cyclist has chosen the appropriate gilet.
Tour’s Worst Road Graffiti Is Becoming Another Tour’s Best Billboard
Hundreds of offensive drawings appear on the Tour route every year, leaving a specialist clean-up crew known as the “Eraser Men” racing ahead of the peloton with paint rollers and whitewash. Their job is simple: cover the graffiti before the television helicopters find it. For the second year running, however, Škoda are giving the Eraser Men a more imaginative option.
“I’m Both Better and Stronger”: Jonas Vingegaard Arrives at the Tour Ready to Hunt Yellow
The Visma-Lease a Bike leader arrives at the Tour having already won the Giro, Paris-Nice and Volta a Catalunya this season, but rather than presenting the Giro-Tour double as an act of survival, Vingegaard is framing it as something closer to a renewal. The Giro, he insists, did not empty him. It sharpened him. “Without taking anything away from anyone at the Giro, it is true that I did not have to completely kill myself. I didn’t come out of the Giro completely on my knees,” Vingegaard said.
The 2026 Tour de France Is Finally Here
And whether you are watching from home, riding your own local loop, or lucky enough to be there on the roadside, this Tour is going to be properly Epiq. Škoda We Love Cycling’s Tour de France 2026 hub brings the race closer with Epiq Moments Bingo, real-time POV content from the route, race updates, analysis and on-site experiences for fans heading to the stages.
What to Eat on Long Summer Rides (Without Upsetting Your Stomach)
Unfortunately, your stomach didn’t agree to any of this. Because while fitness is important on long rides, your ability to fuel properly often determines whether you finish feeling strong or spend the final hour fantasising about lying down in a hedge.
Krabi For Broke Travellers With Excellent Taste
The place looks like somebody accidentally turned the graphics settings too high. Limestone cliffs explode out of turquoise water, longtail boats drift between tiny islands, beaches look suspiciously edited even when you’re standing on them, and every sunset feels like it was designed by someone trying far too hard. The good news is that Krabi doesn’t have to be expensive. Yes, there are luxury resorts charging enough money to make your credit card nervous.
Perth: Australia’s Sunniest City And Its Best-Kept Secret
It’s one of the most isolated major cities on Earth, which sounds dramatic because it is. The nearest major Australian city is literally closer to parts of Southeast Asia than it is to Perth. And somehow, that works in Perth’s favour. Life moves slower here. The beaches are spectacular, the weather is absurdly reliable, and locals seem remarkably relaxed for people who live somewhere with house prices that occasionally require emotional support. The bad news? Australia is not famous for being cheap.
Faro On A Budget: Portugal’s Sunny Gateway To The Algarve
Because Faro quietly offers exactly what many travellers are looking for: sunshine, beautiful old streets, great food, beaches, affordable prices by Algarve standards, and significantly fewer crowds than many of its famous neighbours. This is a city where storks build nests on church towers, locals drink coffee for less than a euro, and golden sunsets turn the entire old town into something that feels suspiciously cinematic.
How to Train in Hot Weather Without Destroying Your Performance
The problem is that your body views heat very differently. While you’re enjoying the sunshine, it’s desperately trying to stop itself from overheating. And that changes everything about how you should train.
“Today, I’m here as the winner:” Paula Blasi seals Tour Féminin des Pyrénées Overall Victory
“Last year, the Tour des Pyrénées was the first race where I really came as a leader for the general classification, and it was a very tough experience. Today, I’m here as the winner. I think I’m the same person as I was a year ago, but with much more experience. I’ve learned how to move better within the peloton, stay calm when it matters, and make better decisions during the race.
How to Peak for a Cycling Event in 2 Weeks (Without Losing Fitness)
As race day approaches, it’s easy to convince yourself that one more hard training block will unlock a new level of fitness, that recovery is overrated, or that feeling exhausted is a sign you’re in great form. In reality, your body often has other plans. At this point, you are not trying to gain huge fitness anymore. You are trying to reduce fatigue enough for your existing fitness to finally show up. That’s what peaking really is.
“I was waiting for this win so much”: Balsamo Backs up Maglia Rosa Promotion
After being elevated to stage winner and race leader following Lorena Wiebes’s disqualification from stage 1, the Italian was careful with her reaction. “It’s not the way I want to win,” Balsamo said before stage 2. Twenty-four hours later, she no longer needed an explanation. Elisa Balsamo won stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia Women outright in Caorle, sprinting to victory in the pink jersey and extending her overall lead.
Cheap Flights, Cheap Pho, Great Beaches: A Guide To Da Nang
You’ve got long sandy beaches, mountains rising out of nowhere, cafés everywhere, scooters moving like a synchronised school of fish, and some of the cheapest genuinely amazing food on Earth. One minute you’re drinking coconut coffee by the sea, the next you’re crossing a dragon-shaped bridge while trying not to get emotionally attached to a 40p bánh mì.
What to Do the Day Before a Cycling Race (Complete Checklist)
One half wants to rest calmly and trust the training. The other half is googling tyre pressure at midnight while eating dry pasta directly from the pot. The truth is that you are not getting fitter the day before a race. You are simply trying to avoid doing something spectacularly stupid.
“I missed this on my resume.” Michael Valgren Finally Gets his Grand Tour Stage win at the Giro
“I missed this on my resume,” Valgren said after winning stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia. “I think I deserve this, I think my career has been really good, but I needed this stage win.” After years of injuries, setbacks and rebuilding, the Dane finally took his first Grand Tour stage victory with a perfectly timed late attack in Andalo. A breakaway that never fully settled The stage itself was chaotic almost from the beginning.
Birmingham On the Cheap: Your Guide To Britain’s Most Underrated City
This is a city where old factories became cool cafés, canals quietly outnumber Venice’s (yes, Birmingham people will tell you this within five minutes), and you can eat some of the best food in the UK without needing to financially recover afterwards. And the best part? You can do a genuinely great Birmingham trip on a budget without feeling like you’re missing the “real” experience. Birmingham Airport is refreshingly civilised.
Dammam: Saudi Arabia’s Chill Coastal City Nobody Talks About Enough
This is a city of seaside walks, endless shawarma options, warm evenings by the Gulf, giant roads designed with complete confidence, and cafés full of people staying out until 2am because apparently sleep is optional in the Gulf. It’s less intense than Riyadh, less touristy than Dubai, and honestly far more relaxed than many people expect before arriving. And if you’re travelling on a budget, Dammam quietly works in your favour.
What Have We Learned from La Vuelta Femenina 2026?
For years, women’s cycling has evolved steadily rather than suddenly. Established names remained at the top, younger riders arrived gradually, and the hierarchy rarely shifted all at once. This Vuelta felt different. Across seven stages in northern Spain, riders between 20 and 25 years old didn’t just animate the race — they shaped it. They won stages, fought for jerseys, controlled finales, climbed with the best, and in the end, one of them won the entire race.
“It’s just a dream to win a Grand Tour stage”: Noemi Rüegg Sprints to Red Jersey at La Vuelta Femenina
“I can’t really believe it. It’s just a dream to win a Grand Tour stage. The team believed in me so much, more than I did. It was a big goal to go for the win, it’s insane to finish it off like this, I don’t know what to say,” said Rüegg after the finish. A final shaped by chaos For most of the 113.9km stage from Marín to Salvaterra de Miño, the race followed a familiar rhythm. It was controlled, with short-lived moves and a steady pace across rolling terrain.
Fast, Vertical, And Weirdly Efficient: Hong Kong
It’s intense, yes. But it’s also one of the easiest big cities to function in. Things work, transport makes sense, food is everywhere, and somehow the chaos feels organised. You won’t relax here the same way you do elsewhere. But you will get a lot out of it. From Hong Kong International Airport, the Airport Express is the easiest move. Fast, clean, and gets you into Central in about 25 minutes for around HKD 110 (€13). If you want cheaper, buses run into the city for a fraction of the price.
“I really wanted to go all-out for this victory and not have any regrets afterwards”: Demi Vollering solos to third Liège-Bastogne-Liège title
She went long, 35 kilometres long, from the Côte de la Redoute, and no one saw her again. “I really wanted to go all-out for this victory and not have any regrets afterwards. We made a plan to go from the Redoute. We wanted to have a teammate in front before, but that didn’t really work out. Still, I went, and it was a long, long way from there, but I managed to finish it off.” A move that split the race for good The race had been controlled, even tense, up to that point.
Dusty, Chaotic, And Weirdly Addictive: Amman
It’s not polished. It’s not trying to be pretty all the time. But give it a day, maybe two, and it grows on you in a way that’s hard to explain and even harder to leave. You’ll come for Petra. You’ll accidentally enjoy Amman. From Queen Alia International Airport, taxis are the default. Expect around 20–25 JOD (€25–35) into the city. There is an airport bus (Sariyah Express) for about 3–4 JOD, which is significantly cheaper and actually pretty straightforward.
How to Make Cycling Part of Your Everyday Life
Cyclists don’t. Cyclists treat riding the same way they treat walking somewhere, making tea, or brushing their teeth. It’s not special. It’s not dramatic. It’s just part of the day. The difference between a person who rides a bike and a cyclist isn’t fitness, speed, or kilometres. It’s an identity shift. And once that shift happens, consistency stops being a struggle.
Helsinki: Where Nothing Tries Too Hard (And That’s The Point)
At first, it can feel almost too simple. No overwhelming landmarks, no constant noise, nothing pulling you in ten directions at once. But give it a few hours, and that simplicity starts to feel like the whole appeal. You stop rushing. You stop checking what’s next. You start noticing things you’d normally miss. And that’s where Helsinki wins — not by doing more, but by making less feel like enough. From Helsinki Airport, trains are the easiest move.
“I wasn’t actually even scheduled to ride this race,” Paula Blasi Takes Surprise Solo Win at Amstel Gold Race
“I really can’t believe it. I wasn’t actually even scheduled to ride this race, but due to some illnesses and injuries within the team, I got called up after all. And now this!” said Blasi. From being dropped to going all-in The turning point didn’t come from a position of control, quite the opposite. “It will take a few weeks before it really sinks in. I had actually been dropped, but I managed to make my way back and decided to accelerate.
Cheap, Calm, And Quietly Luxurious: Abu Dhabi
It’s the kind of place where you expect to spend a lot. And then realise you don’t actually have to. From Abu Dhabi International Airport, taxis into the city will cost around AED 70–100 (€18–25). Reliable, comfortable, and… avoidable. The smarter move is the A1 bus, which runs 24/7 and gets you into the city in about 45 minutes for around AED 4 (€1). Air-conditioned, simple, and one of the easiest ways to save money before your trip even starts.
How to Transition from Base Training to High Intensity
You’ve spent months riding steady, stacking zone 2 like a disciplined endurance monk. Then the sun shows up, group rides get spicy, and suddenly everyone thinks they’re one interval away from winning Tour de France. This is where things go wrong. Not because intensity is bad but because how you introduce it matters more than the intervals themselves.
“It’s kind of hard to believe… it’s like a dream”: Franziska Koch wins Paris-Roubaix Femmes
“It’s kind of hard to believe. I’ve been dreaming about it, but Roubaix is a race where anything can happen, and that it worked out in the end, it’s like a dream,” Koch said after the finish. The decisive selection formed after Mons-en-Pévèle, with Koch joining Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot at the front. From there, the race narrowed to a three-up sprint and Koch found just enough in the final metres.
“I have dreamt of that moment so many times last night”: Vollering Wins Tour of Flanders
“I have dreamt of that moment so many times last night. I knew that the Kwaremont is the longest effort, that’s what suits me the most. And it’s in the end, so everybody feels the fatigue already. I knew that I just had to push without looking behind, and that’s what I did until I finally turned off the cobbles, and then I realised I was alone,” Vollering said. Finding control inside the effort Once she was clear, the race became something else entirely.
Golden Gate On A Shoestring: The Ultimate San Francisco Guide
From SFO, a taxi or Uber into the city will cost you $35–$60 depending on traffic and surge pricing, and yes, there will be traffic. Skip the wallet anxiety and take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which gets you downtown in about 30 minutes for roughly $10–$12. It’s fast, direct, and blissfully unaffected by whatever chaos is happening on the highways above. If you’re landing at Oakland (OAK), BART still wins — about $11 and under 40 minutes into San Francisco.
“I knew that I had fast legs”: Lotte Kopecky Wins Milan-San Remo Donne
The world champion was part of the decisive move on the Poggio and finished it off from a reduced front group, beating Noemi Rüegg and Eleonora Gasparrini after a tense run-in to the line. The race built steadily before exploding on the final climb, just as Kopecky expected. “The positioning was super important,” she said, underlining how crucial it was to be near the front before the Poggio.
“It is so much emotions, I still can’t realise it”: Chabbey Wins Chaotic Strade Bianche
The Swiss rider from FDJ-SUEZ held her nerve in a tense finale in Siena, sprinting to victory on the steep Via Santa Caterina before the iconic finish on the Piazza del Campo. Chabbey beat our own We Love Cycling expert Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney in second, while her teammate Franziska Koch completed the podium to seal a double top-three for the French squad. But the race’s decisive moment came much earlier.
Women’s Cycling in 2026: Booming on the Surface, Fragile Underneath
Look closer, though, and a different picture emerges. The professionalisation of women’s cycling has accelerated rapidly in the past five years, but the underlying structures have not caught up. The result is a sport simultaneously experiencing its biggest boom and perhaps its most precarious moment. The paradox of growth At the top level, women’s cycling has grown faster than at any point in its history.
The Art of the “Fake Race” to Spark Mid-Winter Fitness
This is where the fake race comes in. Not a real race. Not a peak. Not a taper that would make your coach nervous. Just a deliberately placed, mid-month event designed to trick your brain. And gently sharpen your legs without derailing the bigger plan. Done properly, the fake race is an art form. Why winter needs theatre Mid-winter is metabolically productive and psychologically brutal. The body adapts well to consistent aerobic work, but the brain adapts poorly to monotony.
New Delhi: Where Your Senses Go to the Gym
You stop resisting. You start flowing. Delhi teaches you to cross the road with confidence, to eat boldly, to sit still in a garden full of tombs and somehow feel alive. It’s overwhelming at first and then it becomes magnetic. This isn’t a “see the sights and relax” destination. This is a lean in and level up destination. Indira Gandhi International Airport is modern, surprisingly smooth, and filled with calm energy that will not prepare you for what’s outside.
Seoul: Neon Nights, 24/7 Energy, and Skincare That Judges You
Seoul is for: night owls and early risers (yes, both) food lovers with stamina travellers who thrive in fast cities people who like tradition next to technology anyone prepared to eat at 2 a.m. without apology This is not a sleepy capital. This is a high-definition city. Incheon International Airport feels like a preview of Seoul’s personality: clean, sleek, and suspiciously organised.
Riga: Art Nouveau, Cheap Beer, and Main Character in a Wool Coat Energy
You arrive and immediately think: Why is everything this pretty? Why is the architecture flexing so hard? Why does this feel like Berlin and Paris had a calm, introverted Baltic child? This is not chaos city. This is quiet confidence city. Riga International Airport is small, efficient, and suspiciously calm. €1.50 • 25–30 minutes Drops you right into the centre. Cheap, reliable, no drama.
Visma-Lease a Bike Search for New Title Sponsor as WorldTour Spending Race Intensifies
The Dutch powerhouse has begun actively searching for a new lead sponsor, signalling its intention to strengthen its budget and remain competitive in what has become an increasingly aggressive economic landscape at the top of the sport. Current partners Visma and Lease a Bike remain committed, but the structure of that partnership is set to evolve. Visma, which assumed title billing in 2024, is expected to step back from its front‑of‑jersey prominence as part of a broader corporate strategy shift.
Edinburgh: Where the Buildings Are Gothic, the Wind Is Personal, and the Vibes Are Immaculate
You arrive and immediately think: Why does everything look haunted but expensive? Why is there a castle just casually on a rock? Why is the wind attacking me specifically? This is not a beach city. This is a cloak-and-dagger-with-a-coffee city. Let’s go. Edinburgh Airport is efficient, compact, and immediately colder than your personality. £6–7 • 30 minutes Smooth, direct, reliable. Drops you right into the city centre like a well-organised adult.
The Best Mobility Exercises for Cyclists This Off-Season
This isn’t about turning yourself into a yogi. It’s about restoring movement where cycling steals it: hips that stop extending, spines that stop rotating, hamstrings that remember only one length. Do this well, and you’ll sit better on the bike, produce power more efficiently, and arrive at the first hard rides already ahead. Why cyclists need mobility (even if they stretch “sometimes”) Cycling is profoundly repetitive.
Why Rest Might Be the Most Important Training Block You Skip
That omission costs more fitness than most riders realise. Rest is not the absence of training In cycling culture, rest is often framed as what happens when training stops. In reality, it’s when adaptation happens. Training provides the stimulus; rest allows the body to respond to it. Without enough recovery, you’re not stacking fitness. You’re stacking fatigue. Off-season rest is not about doing nothing forever.
The Seven Stages of Signing Up for a Spring Race
Here are the seven scientifically accurate stages of signing up for a spring race. 1. Optimism (the delusion) You see the event. The date is far enough away that anything feels possible. You’re full of beans. Your legs feel fast walking to the fridge. You sign up. You announce it. You buy a fresh pair of socks. You say things like “this will motivate me to train consistently.” You are already doomed. 2. Spreadsheet euphoria The plan begins. Colour-coded. Week by week. Base, build, peak. You download apps.
FTP Tests and Fitness Benchmarks: Should You Do Them in January?
Because more watts are satisfying. But they’re not always the goal. What FTP testing is really for Functional Threshold Power is not a trophy. It’s a tool, a way to anchor training intensity and track long-term development. Used well, it improves training precision. Used poorly, it creates anxiety, false narratives, and bad decisions. FTP testing should answer three questions: Where should my training zones sit right now? Is my aerobic system responding over time?
Hanoi: Soup for Breakfast and Other Excellent Life Choices
This city is old. Like, very old. Ancient temples next to communist monuments next to French balconies next to someone grilling pork on the pavement like this is the most normal thing in the world. Hanoi is made for slow wanderers, budget travellers with big appetites, people who romanticise chaos, early risers who never planned to be early risers, and travellers who care more about stories than skylines. This is not a checklist city. This is a vibe city.
Sydney: Free Beaches, Expensive Breathing
This is a city that flexes 24/7: the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Bondi surf dudes, brunches that cost more than your flight, parrots casually flying around like colourful WiFi glitches, and beaches so perfect they look AI-generated.
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